Electroconductive container of a nanotube product

ABSTRACT

An electroconductive container that stores a nanotube product, including a container body and a cover that opens and closes the container body in which both container body and cover are made of an electroconductive material. An electroconductive fixing member can by provided in the bottom of the container for holding a nanotube product in an immovable fashion.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to an electroconductive containerof a nanotube product such as a nanotube cantilever, a pair of nanotubetweezers that include nanotubes, and more particularly to anelectroconductive container that is entirely formed by anelectroconductive material so that a nanotube product is not charged bystatic electricity, the nanotube is not damaged by static electricityduring storage and transportation, and as a result the nanotube productcan always work normally.

[0003] 2. Prior Art

[0004] In recent years, a semiconductor cantilever that has a protrudingportion formed on a cantilever portion has been proposed, and by way ofusing the sharp tip end of the protruding portion as a needle in anatomic force microscope (AFM), the semiconductor cantilever scans thesurface of a material, thus obtaining images of uneven surfaces of amaterial.

[0005] In order to make this semiconductor cantilever performance evenhigher, the inventors have invented a nanotube cantilever, wherein ananotube such as a carbon nanotube is fixed on the protruding portion ofa semiconductor cantilever by a coating film or current fusion-bonding.Since the tip end of the nanotube protruding downward is used as aneedlepoint, a high precision AFM that can obtain the image of amaterial surface of the section diameter of nanotube with accuracy isrealized. This is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-OpenNos. 2000-227435 and 2000-249712.

[0006] Furthermore, the inventors have invented nanotweezers, in which aplurality of nanotubes are fixed on the protruding portion of asemiconductor cantilever by a coating film or current fusion-bonding, sothat the tip end portions of the nanotube is opened and closed byelectrostatic attraction or a piezo film. The nanotweezers pick up andrelease a nanomaterial by the tip end portions of the nanotubes; and asa result, the nanostructures can be built freely. This is disclosed inJapanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-252900.

[0007] In addition, the inventors have invented a nanomagnetic head, inwhich a nanotube is fixed on the protruding portion of a cantilever, andthe nanotube is inserted in a nanocoil. This is disclosed in JapanesePatent Application Laid Open No. 2001-331906. By using this nanomagnetichead, magnetic recording and magnetic blanking can be made fornanodomain of a material surface, so that a densification of magneticrecording is realized.

[0008] Furthermore, a material occlusion technique that uses a nanotubeis proposed by other inventors. A nanotube has a comparatively bighollow inside, which can absorb various material atoms; thus nanotubescan be used as hydrogen occlusion means.

[0009] As described above, various kinds of nanotube products such as ananotube cantilever, nanotweezers, nanomagnetic head and materialocclusion nanotube exit and are proposed. Hence it is thought thatvarious kinds of nanotube products that use nanotubes increase in thefuture.

[0010] As the use of nanotube products increases, problems occur incontainers that store nanotube products. A nanotube in itself is amaterial that has an extremely high flexibility, high strength and highelasticity, but a nanotube product that is a combination of a nanotubeand other members has a weakness. It is easily deformed by an electricfield. In particular, deformation due to static electricity is a bigproblem.

[0011]FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the use of a conventionalnanotube product container (prior art). The insulated container 22 ismade of an insulation plastic, and it is used to store therein asemiconductor cantilever.

[0012] This insulated container 22 is composed of an insulated containerbody 24, an insulated hinge 28 and an insulated cover 26. The containeris opened and closed by rotating the insulated cover 26 around the axisof the insulated hinge 28. A gel-form material is provided on the entiresurface of the bottom of the insulated container body 24 so as to forman insulated gel 30.

[0013] The gel-form material is, fort instance, agar that has electricalinsulation, and its surface has some degree of adhesive property. Theconventional semiconductor cantilever (nanotube is not provided therein)is fixed by adhering the cantilever portion to the surface of theinsulated gel 30 in a manner that the protruding portion is directedupwardly, and the thus fixed semiconductor is transported and kept instorage.

[0014] As described above, a semiconductor cantilever composed of acantilever portion and a protruding portion is formed by semiconductorsthat have high strength. Therefore, even if a high electric field actson the cantilever by collecting static electricity and staticelectricity discharges, the protruding portion is not deformed, and thusthere is problem.

[0015] However, since nanotube products have been developed recently, acontainer used exclusively for nanotube products does not exist.Accordingly the nanotube products are usually stored in the conventionalcontainer that is used for semiconductor cantilevers.

[0016] In FIG. 6, a nanotube product 12 is adhesively bonded to thesurface of an insulated gel 30 in a manner that its nanotube 14 isdirected upwardly. Even if the insulated container 24 is turned overafter the insulated cover 26 is closed, the nanotube product 12 does notfall by the adhesive force of the insulated gel 30.

[0017] In other words, even if the conventional insulated container 22is used, any problem does not occur at all as long as the nanotubeproduct 12 is fixed and held However, since the anti-static electricitymeasures are not taken for this insulated container 22 at all, there areseveral problems that occur frequently as described below.

[0018]FIG. 7 shows the manner of a nanotube cantilever being damaged inthe conventional nanotube product container. This nanotube product 12 isthe above-described nanotube cantilever, and a protruding portion 12 bis projected at the tip end of the cantilever portion 12 a.

[0019] The base end portion 14 a of the nanotube 14 is fixed to thisprotruding portion 12 b by a coating film or current fusion-bonding sothat the tip end portion 14 b protrudes upwardly from the protrudingportion 12 b. The AFM scan is performed by the tip end 14 c of this tipend portion 14 b.

[0020] Because the container 22 has electrical insulationcharacteristics, static electricity can easily occur on the surface.Since the gel body 30 is insulated also, and the nanotube product 12 isa semiconductor or insulator, the static electricity can occur on itsany part, and it is extremely unlikely that the occurred staticelectricity is discharged.

[0021] Therefore, when the static electricity occurs in any part, a highelectric field acts on the tip end portion 14 b of the nanotube 14. Inaddition, when the static electricity discharge occurs, an electricshock breaks out to the nanotube 14. In such a case, according to theelectron microscope observation done by the inventions, the tip endportion 14 b of the nanotube distorts to bend and adheres to theprotruding portion 12 b, and damages occur so that the nanotube cannotbe used as a nanotube cantilever.

[0022]FIG. 8 shows a pair of nanotweezers being damaged in aconventional nanotube product container. In this FIG. 8, thenanotweezers are illustrated as one example of a nanotube product 12.The base end portions 14 a, 14 a of two nanotubes 14, 14 are fixed tothe protruding portion 12 b by a coating film or fusion bonding.

[0023] Tip end portions 14 b, 14 b of the nanotube protrude downwardly,and their tip ends 14 c, 14 c are constructed so as to open and close inthe right and left by electrostatic force or piezo action. The thusformed nanotweezers can function as a nano-robot that buildsnanostructures by holding a nanomaterial between the tip ends 14 c, 14 cand releasing the nanomaterial to a particular location.

[0024] However, as shown in FIG. 7, when the nanotweezers are stored inthe conventional insulated container 22, the tip end portions 14 b, 14 bare bonded together by a local high electric field due to the staticelectricity and static electricity discharge. In some cases, such asituation occurs that the integrated tip end portions distort and bendand thus adhere to the protruding portion 12 b. The inventors foundthese damages by electron microscope observation.

[0025] In addition, though not shown in the drawings, in cases wherenanotubes are merely stored in the insulated container 22, such asituation occurs that nanotubes are bonded together so as to form adumpling shape, when local electric field caused by static electricityand a static electricity discharge occur. A similar phenomenon isobserved in nanotubes that adsorb material atoms. It is necessary totake some static electricity measures for a container that stores such ananotube product.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0026] As a result, it is an object of the present invention to providea safe and reliable container for a nanotube product which is developednot only for now but also in the future, wherein some static electricitymeasures are taken for such the container, so that a nanotube productstored in the container is not broken by static electricity.

[0027] The present invention is made to achieve such an object. Thefirst form of the present invention is an electroconductive container ofa nanotube product comprising an electroconductive container body and anelectroconductive cover that opens and closes the opening of theelectroconductive container body. When a nanotube product is set insidethe electroconductive container, even though static electricity occurson the nanotube product, the electricity is naturally emitted throughthe electroconductive container. In the same manner, even if staticelectricity occurs on the electroconductive container, the electricityflows naturally to the outside. Therefore, the local high electric fieldand electric shock due to static electricity discharge does not act onthe nanotube, and thus nanotube products can be stored safely andreliably.

[0028] The second form of the present invention is an electroconductivecontainer of a nanotube product comprising an electroconductivecontainer body, an electroconductive fixing member provided in theelectroconductive container body and an electroconductive cover thatopens and closes the opening of the electroconductive container body.Since a nanotube product is fixed on the surface of theelectroconductive fixing member, the nanotube product is stably fixed inan immobile fashion. Furthermore, even though static electricity occurson the nanotube product, since the electricity is naturally dischargedto the outside through the electroconductive container, the staticelectricity is not accumulated on the nanotube product. In addition, thestatic electricity that occurs on the electroconductive container isinstantaneously emitted to the outside naturally, and the local highelectric field and electric shock due to the static electricitydischarge does not act on the nanotube at all. Therefore, nanotubeproducts can be stored safely and reliably, and it is possible toprevent the static electricity failure of the nanotube assuredly.

[0029] The third form of the present invention is an electroconductivecontainer of a nanotube product characterized in that theelectroconductive container body and the electroconductive cover aremade of electroconductive plastics, and the electroconductive fixingmember is made of electroconductive gel, so that the nanotube product isfixed by a surface adhesive force of the electroconductive gel. A designof the plastic cantilever container used conventionally can be employed“as is”; and only the material is changed so that electroconductiveplastics and electroconductive gel are used. Therefore, anelectroconductive container for a nanotube product can be providedsimply and at low prices.

[0030] The fourth form of the present invention is an electroconductivecontainer of a nanotube product, wherein the nanotube product is ananotube cantilever or a nanotube tweezers; and thus, it becomespossible to increase the market circulation characteristics of thenanotube products employed widely in the field of nanotechnology, andthe present invention greatly contributes to the expansion of a nanotubecantilever and nanotube tweezers market.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0031]FIG. 1 is a simplified perspective diagram showing the nanotubeproduct container according to the present invention, the containerbeing closed;

[0032]FIG. 2 is a simplified perspective diagram that shows the openednanotube product container of the present invention;

[0033]FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 3-3 in FIG. 2;

[0034]FIG. 4 is an explanatory perspective diagram of the nanotubeproduct being taken out of the electroconductive container;

[0035]FIG. 5 is a simplified perspective diagram of another embodimentof the nanotube product container of the present invention;

[0036]FIG. 6 is a perspective view explaining a conventional nanotubeproduct container being used;

[0037]FIG. 7 is a diagram of a nanotube cantilever before and afterdamaged in a conventional nanotube product container; and

[0038]FIG. 8 is a diagram of a pair of nanotweezers before and afterdamaged in a conventional nanotube product container.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0039] In the following, embodiments of the electroconductive containerof a nanotube product according to the present invention will bedescribed in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0040]FIG. 1 is a simplified perspective diagram showing the closednanotube product container of the present invention. Theelectroconductive container 2 comprises an electroconductive containerbody 4, an electroconductive cover 6 and electroconductive hinges 8 thatconnect the electroconductive container body 4 and the electroconductivecover 6. An electroconductive fixing member 10 is disposed in the insidebottom of the electroconductive container body 4.

[0041] For electroconductive materials that forms the electroconductivecontainer body 4, a metal and an electroconductive macromolecule havingelectroconductivity in itself can be used, and other materials that haveelectroconductivity provided by dispersed electroconductive fillers(electroconductive fine grains such as electroconductive fine particleand electroconductive microfilament) in a semiconductor material or aninsulator material can be used also.

[0042] A metal simple substance, an alloy and an intermetallic compoundcan be used for the above-described metal; and an electroconductivecarbon material and other similar electroconductive material can be usedalso. For the electroconductive macromolecule, a chain electroconductivemacromolecule and a two-dimensional electroconductive macromoleculewhose conjugate system developed can be used. Such an electroconductivemacromolecule includes those which show metallic property in itself andthose which show an insulator-metal phase transition by doping a smallamount of acceptor or doner.

[0043] The above-described electroconductive macromolecule includespolythiazyl, poly acetylene, poly (3-alkyl thiophen), etc. that can beshown, in concrete constitutional formula, by (SN)_(X), (C₂H₂)_(X),(C₆H₄)_(X), (C₆H₄S)_(X), (C₆H₄C₂H₂)_(X), (C₄H₂SC₂H₂)_(X), andelectroconductivity is seen in various macromolecules.

[0044] In addition, electroconductivity can be produced freely by way ofdispersing electroconductive fine grains to a semiconductor material andan insulator material and adjusting the doping concentration of theelectroconductive fine grains. The electroconductive fine grains can befreely chosen from metal fine particles, carbon fine particles and otherelectroconductive fine particle material.

[0045] The electroconductive fixing member 10 is selected from themembers that can fix the nanotube product 12 in the electroconductivecontainer 2 in an immovable fashion, thus including, for example, amechanism to mechanically push the nanotube product 12 immovably, athing coated with adhesive having weak adhesion, a double-sided tape andothers.

[0046] In the shown embodiment, an electroconductive gel filled flatlyin the bottom of electroconductive container body 4 is used as theelectroconductive fixing member 10, so that the surface of the gel actsas a fixing surface 10 a of the nanotube product 12. Thiselectroconductive gel is an agar-like material that is formed flatly andthus is, in other words, a jelly-form material or a gelatinous material.A sol-gel method can be used for such a gel formation.

[0047] In general, most gels are insulative; thus theelectroconductivity can be given for such gels by dispersing theelectroconductive filler at a solution stage of the starting materialand revealing the electroconductivity in the process of sol-geltransition by drying. In the shown embodiment, any gel to whichelectroconductivity is eventually given is used.

[0048] The gel surface has a constant adhesive force. As a result, thenanotube product 12 can be fixed immovably, and it is also easy toexfoliate the nanotube product 12 from the gel surface. Of course, thisexfoliating power can be arbitrarily adjusted by changing the kind ofgel and adjusting the degree of dryness of the gel.

[0049] The nanotube product 12 is immovably fixed by adhering theback-face of the cantilever to the surface of the electroconductive geland arranging the nanotube 14 so as to be directed upwardly, thus beingprevented from damages.

[0050]FIG. 2 is a simplified perspective diagram that shows the openednanotube product container of the present invention. Theelectroconductive container 2 is opened by rotating theelectroconductive cover 6 about the electroconductive hinges 8. By wayof putting the container in an opened state, the nanotube product 12 canbe taken out.

[0051] According to the present invention, since the electroconductivecontainer 2 is made of an electroconductive material, and the fixingmember is an electroconductive fixing member 10, the static electricitydoes not accumulate on these elements. Therefore, a high electric fieldbased on static electricity does not occur, and an electric shock due tostatic electricity discharge does not happen; and thus the nanotubeproduct is never damaged by static electricity, and it is possible tostore the nanotube product in a perfect state safely and assuredly.

[0052]FIG. 3 is a sectional diagram taken along the line 3-3 FIG. 2.When the electroconductive container 2 is handled, it is set on anelectroconductive mat 13. There is sometimes a situation in which somestatic electricity stays on the electroconductive container 2. Such astatic electricity can be removed naturally without allowing the staticelectricity to be discharged by way of putting the container on agrounded electroconductive mat 13. Since a high electric field and anelectric shock due to discharge thus do not act on the nanotube 14, thenanotube 14 is not damaged.

[0053] As seen from FIG. 3, the back-face of nanotube product 12 isadhesively set on the fixing surface 10 a, and the nanotube 14 isarranged to direct upwardly. In this arrangement, the nanotube 14 of thenanotube product 12 is not damaged and is kept safely.

[0054]FIG. 4 is an explanatory perspective diagram that shows thenanotube product being taken out of the electroconductive container. Atfirst, both hands of an operator are put on the electroconductive mat,removing the static electricity accumulated on the operator's body.After removing the electricity, the operator holds a pair of tweezers 16placed on the electroconductive mat 13, and the nanotube product 12 isgrasped on its both sides by the tip ends 16 a, 16 a of the tweezers.With an operation like this, the static electricity discharge is notcaused in the nanotube product, and as a result, the nanotube product 12is treated without having the nanotube 14 damaged.

[0055]FIG. 5 is a simplified perspective diagram of another embodimentof the nanotube product container of the present invention. In thisembodiment, an electroconductive double-sided tape is used as theelectroconductive fixing member 10, and it is adhered to the bottom ofthe electroconductive container body 4. The fixing surface 10 a is theadhesive surface of the electroconductive double-sided tape.Accordingly, by adjusting the adhesive force, it becomes possible toeasily exfoliate the nanotube product 12.

[0056] The present invention is not limited to the above-describedembodiments; and various modifications, design changes, etc. within thelimits that involve no departure from the technical spirit of thepresent invention are included in the technical scope of the presentinvention.

[0057] According to the first form of the present invention, theelectroconductive container is comprised of an electroconductivecontainer body and an electroconductive cover that opens and closes theelectroconductive container body. Therefore, the electroconductivecontainer is not charged by static electricity. Even though staticelectricity flows into the container for some reason, the staticelectricity is instantly grounded from the outside surface of thecontainer, and the electric current does not pass through the nanotubeproduct stored inside the container. Thus, the nanotube product is keptin a complete state safely and reliably. Furthermore, because theelectroconductive container is not charged with static electricity, thecontainer does not attract dusts and is kept clean advantageously.

[0058] According to the second form of the present invention, theelectroconductive container of a nanotube product is comprised of anelectroconductive container body, an electroconductive fixing memberprovided in the electroconductive container body, and anelectroconductive cover that opens and closes the electroconductivecontainer body. Even if the electroconductive container is moved, thenanotube product inside is fixed securely on the surface of theelectroconductive fixing member, and it is perfectly prevented that thenanotube product is damaged by falling. In addition, the staticelectricity does not occur in the electroconductive container. Eventhough static electricity flows into the container for some reason, thestatic electricity is instantaneously grounded from the outside surfaceof the container, and thus an electric current does not pass through thenanotube product stored inside the container, and the nanotube productcan be stored in a complete state safely and assuredly. At the sametime, because the electroconductive container is not charged with anystatic electricity, the container is kept clean advantageously withoutadsorbing dusts.

[0059] According to the third form of the present invention, theelectroconductive container body and the electroconductive cover aremade of electroconductive plastics, and the electroconductive fixingmember is made of an electroconductive gel. Thus, the nanotube productis assuredly fixed by the surface adhesive force of theelectroconductive gel. The design of a plastic cantilever container usedconventionally can be employed “as is”, and the materials used in theconventional container are only changed to the electroconductiveplastics and electroconductive gel in the present invention.Accordingly, the electroconductive container of a nanotube product ofthe present invention can be provided simply at low costs.

[0060] According to the fourth form of the present invention, since ananotube cantilever or nanotube tweezers developed by the inventors areadopted as the nanotube products, it is possible to expand the market ofthese nanotube products employed widely in the field of nanotechnology,and the present invention can contribute to market expansion of nanotubecantilevers and nanotube tweezers and to the advancement ofnanotechnology.

1. An electroconductive container of a nanotube product characterized inthat said electroconductive container comprises an electroconductivecontainer body and an electroconductive cover that opens and closes anopening of said electroconductive container body, wherein said nanotubeproduct is placed inside said electroconductive container, so thatelectrification of static electricity to said nanotube is prevented. 2.An electroconductive container of a nanotube product characterized inthat said electroconductive container comprises an electroconductivecontainer body, an electroconductive fixing member provided in saidelectroconductive container body and an electroconductive cover thatopens and closes an opening of said electroconductive container body,wherein said nanotube product is fixed on a surface of saidelectroconductive fixing member, so that electrification of staticelectricity to said nanotube is prevented.
 3. The electroconductivecontainer of a nanotube product according to claim 2, wherein saidelectroconductive container body and said electroconductive cover aremade of electroconductive plastics, and said electroconductive fixingmember is made of electroconductive gel, so that said nanotube productis fixed by a surface adhesive force of said electroconductive gel. 4.The electroconductive container of a nanotube product according to claim2, wherein said nanotube product is a nanotube cantilever which isformed by fixing said nanotube as a needle on a cantilever used for anatomic force microscope, or nanotube tweezers which are formed by fixinga plurality of nanotubes on a cantilever so that an opening and closingfunction is given between tip ends of said nanotubes.